A few more gems…

So yes, Proverbs 27 revisits some of the familiar territory that runs as themes through the Book of Proverbs – a nagging wife; fools; friendship; leadership…but here are a few new gems.

Don’t brashly announce what you’re going to do tomorrow;
you don’t know the first thing about tomorrow.  Proverbs 27:1

My Grandad would always finish any future plans with the phrase ‘God willing’. It became a bit of a joke. But I guess it kept in mind for him the fragility of plans. The fragility of life. And it’s true, isn’t it? Only if God allows something to go ahead, will it go ahead. Whatever our plans, we can never be sure what tomorrow holds. So many things are outside our control. We can talk of our hopes and dreams, even our five year plan, but only in the context that all that might change.

Don’t call attention to yourself;
let others do that for you.  Proverbs 27:2

None of this ‘Look at me! Look at me! Aren’t I amazing?’ stuff. It is not always all about you. But none of this ‘Look at me! Aren’t I useless? Aren’t I pathetic?’ crying out for affirmation either. Just wait and take it when it comes and most importantly, believe it when it comes.

When you’ve stuffed yourself, you refuse dessert;
when you’re starved, you could eat a horse. Proverbs 27:7

Er..no. I can think of a friend who always has a pudding hole! And I love that the phrase ‘I could eat a horse!’ that I hear on a regular basis was found here in the Bible, in Proverbs, first of all.

Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight,
a sweet friendship refreshes the soul. Proverbs 27:9

Yes! Yes, definitely. I didn’t really do friendship very well until later in life. I was far too screwed up and insecure to believe that anyone could really like me as I was. Until I met someone who did. And that freed me up to enjoy friendship more with others too.

You use steel to sharpen steel,
and one friend sharpens another.  Proverbs 27:17

We do this too, though. Good friends work on being completely honest with each other. They are the best people to challenge us and help us move on. With our friends, we can learn how to agree to differ. And still be friends. We can be ourselves – and be told when this is verging on ridiculous.

The purity of silver and gold is tested
by putting them in the fire;
The purity of human hearts is tested
by giving them a little fame.  Proverbs 27:21

The dangers of success. When we start to believe our own publicity and it starts to go to our head. When we pay far too much attention to the hype. When we start to think we are special. More special then the next person. Superior even. That we are getting it all right. This is when our hearts are tested.